▲Last month on the 24th at the Suwon Convention Center, Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun and visually impaired announcer Heo Woo-ryeong discussed barrier-free tourism. Provided by Suwon City
Suwon — Song In-ho, Energy Economic News reporter: "We want to give every visitor to Suwon a truly special experience," Mayor Lee Jae-jun told tourists visiting the city.
On the 10th, the mayor unveiled a blueprint to elevate Suwon into a global cultural tourism city through the 2026–2027 Year of Visiting Suwon campaign.
The plan is to make Suwon a city where visitors stay longer, connect more deeply, and keep coming back — aiming to draw 15 million visitors annually.
Last month, the city kicked off the 2026–2027 Year of Visiting Suwon at the Suwon Convention Center, where about 1,500 people from the tourism industry, civic groups and local communities took part in the proclamation ceremony, marking the start of its campaign to become a tourism-forward city.
The event showed strong, collective resolve to lift Suwon onto the world tourism stage.
The mayor said, "The Year of Visiting Suwon isn't just a tourism campaign — it's a new starting point to share Suwon's value with the world. We will focus every resource on growing Suwon into one of Korea's leading global cultural tourism cities."
An era of 15 million visitors…Suwon pins its future on tourism
▲Participants perform at the 2026–2027 Year of Visiting Suwon proclamation ceremony at the Suwon Convention Center last month. Provided by Suwon City
The city has set a goal to usher in an era of 15 million annual visitors through this initiative.
About 13.5 million people visited Suwon last year. Building on that momentum, the city is targeting 14 million visitors this year and 15 million next year.
To help reach those numbers, Suwon adopted the slogan "Suwon For You."
The slogan signals a shift: Suwon wants to be more than a quick stop for Seoul-bound tourists. The city aims to become a destination where visitors stay overnight, explore and take part in immersive experiences.
The mayor noted, "Suwon blends history, culture, industry and urban infrastructure. By boosting the city's brand through tourism, we aim to create a virtuous cycle that energizes the local economy."
Tourism is already a core element of the city's development strategy, responding to rapid growth in inbound travel to Korea and rising domestic tourism demand.
To match these trends, Suwon is repositioning itself as a culture- and tourism-centered city.
Making the whole city a destination, centered on Suwon Hwaseong
▲At the 2026–2027 Year of Visiting Suwon event, the mayor greets citizens who played King Jeongjo and Lady Hyegyeong. Provided by Suwon City
This year marks the 230th anniversary of the construction of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, and next year will mark 30 years since it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site — milestones that give the Year of Visiting Suwon extra resonance.
The campaign also revives a citywide tourism push last run in 2016, making this the first major initiative in a decade.
The city says the 2016 events helped establish Hwaseong as a top domestic attraction; visits by foreign tourists to Hwaseong Haenggung peaked that year.
This time, the strategy is to expand tourism beyond Hwaseong Fortress and spread it across Suwon's neighborhoods.
The mayor pledged, "We will link Suwon into a tourism belt centered on the world-class cultural heritage of Hwaseong Fortress and showcase a Suwon where past, present and future coexist."
To support that vision, the city will partner with the Korea Visit Year Committee and roll out international tourism programs. In July, Suwon plans outreach programs tied to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Busan to introduce attendees to the city.
▲Last September at Gwanggyo Lake Park in Suwon, a drone fireworks festival formed words in the sky. Provided by Suwon City
The city plans a major overhaul of its tourism approach, focused on content-driven experiences.
Suwon will expand tourism tied to popular TV drama locations and beef up hands-on programs for visitors. In the Hoijudo-ro area on Paldal Mountain, the city will add photo zones and visitor amenities that recreate the vibe of filming sites.
The World Heritage initiative "Suwon Hwaseong Taepyeongseongdae," which involves Haenggung Village residents, will be expanded to offer visitors fresh cultural encounters.
Specialized streets aimed at foreign visitors are also in the works: a Korean fried chicken street — reflecting the dish's global appeal — and a hanbok (traditional clothing) culture street where visitors can try on traditional attire.
Traditional cultural programs held in public hanok (Korean houses) will further showcase Korean aesthetics and expand hands-on cultural offerings.
Improving convenience for visitors…building a global tourism foundation
▲Foreign visitors who attended last year's Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival participate in a tea program. Provided by Suwon City
Improving visitor convenience is a key priority. The city will upgrade access and amenities along major tourist routes centered on Hwaseong Fortress and create new connections that link tourist hubs with surrounding commercial areas to make getting around easier.
Suwon will also expand payment infrastructure for international card transactions, introduce intuitive standard tourist signage, and produce barrier-free tourism maps so everyone can travel comfortably.
The mayor said, "A city that lets visitors travel without hassle is a city they want to revisit. We'll build an environment where people from around the world can visit Suwon with ease."
Year-round festivals to boost Suwon's appeal
▲At last year's Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, sister-city days brought foreigners together to enjoy the festivities. Provided by Suwon City
The Year of Visiting Suwon will feature a lineup of cultural tourism events across all four seasons.
In spring, the Manseokgeo Saebit Festival at Manseok Park will welcome locals and tourists, and Hwaseong Haenggung will open for special nighttime palace programs.
In summer, the Hwaseong Heritage Concert and Hwaseong Cultural Heritage Night Walk will draw crowds, followed by signature autumn festivals.
Events like the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, King Jeongjo's royal procession reenactment, and media art festivals will turn the city into a sprawling festival stage.
The city also plans to develop the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival into a global K-style festival.
The mayor emphasized, "Suwon breathes history, culture and art. With year-round festivals, we'll grow into a tourist city that attracts people from across the globe."
We will share Suwon's value with the world
The city expects the Year of Visiting Suwon to be more than a tourism campaign — it aims to raise Suwon's brand on the global stage.
The mayor called the initiative a declaration to open Suwon's doors to the world and said, "We'll turn the entire city into a tourism platform so every visitor can make special memories."
He added, "With citizens, the tourism industry and local communities working together, Suwon will rise as a global cultural tourism city that captures the world's attention."
Over the next two years, the city plans to expand tourism content, upgrade infrastructure and build global tourism networks as a springboard to becoming one of Korea's leading destinations.
Song In-ho Reporter sih31@ekn.kr
